Asked whether United had been interested in the coach, he said: "For sure, but not now -- it was last year. Ferguson called him to be his successor, but he told him he had already promised to come to us."

United instead hired former Everton manager David Moyes, but he was sacked in April and has since been replaced by former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Louis van Gaal.

However, AS claims Van Gaal was only offered the job after United failed in attempt to appoint Spain boss Vicente del Bosque.

The paper reports that Ferguson was involved in a formal offer made to Del Bosque in April but that the 63-year-old turned it down as he wants to remain in charge at La Roja for two more years before taking another role at the Spanish FA. The report also says that Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone was on the shortlist drawn up after Moyes was sacked.